Alonso Admits Mistakes: Derby as a Real Wake-Up Call Before Barcelona

Journey to Kazakhstan: a turning point after the derby

Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso described the latest capital derby defeat to Atletico Madrid as a painful but constructive moment, a "pain with a purpose" aimed at future success. He stressed that learning from mistakes, including his own decisions, is essential, just as the club did after their loss to Paris Saint-Germain during the Club World Cup run.

Alonso emphasized facing reality without narcotics of comfort, insisting that the team must address errors from the Atletico game and the broader set of decisions he has made. He framed the setback as the start of atonement for what he termed football sins, underscoring the need for accountability across the squad.

Tactical sessions and lineup doubts

According to AS, Real Madrid’s delegation boarded a journey to Kazakhstan, moving from the Valdebebas training complex to Barajas airport and arriving in Almaty after a seven-hour flight that spanned more than 6,400 kilometers. The long travel was cast as a rare opportunity for deep, reflective thinking after the shock of the derby.

The squad traveled with 22 players; Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal were missing, while young keepers David Jimenez and Javi Navarro were called up to bolster the options on the plane. More than 300 fans greeted the team in Almaty, yet the players stayed focused, watching the crowds from a respectful distance as the journey continued.

Alonso used the extended trip to begin formal "wound care"—one-on-one sessions with selected players and broad tactical meetings with the coaching staff. Among the more controversial decisions he acknowledged was starting Jude Bellingham, a choice that proved premature given his incomplete fitness after injury.

Defensive fragility and pressing concerns

The coach highlighted a disciplinary and tactical dilemma around Bellingham’s role, while also drawing attention to Franco Mastantuono’s absence from the starting XI, which had raised questions about the team’s competitive edge that Alonso had praised in recent weeks.

Arda Guler’s performance on the wing provided a bright spot, linking play with Kylian Mbappe and scoring an equalizer before Madrid briefly moved ahead. His early exit, following a yellow card and a subsequent penalty against him, deprived Real Madrid of one of their most dynamic attacking options at a crucial moment.

Defensive frailties and a fall in pressing intensity

Beyond individual errors, the new central pairing—an Duis-like combination—looked vulnerable, and Real Madrid’s high-pressing tempo appeared off. The team’s ball recovery in the final third dropped sharply, reflecting a worrying trend that Alonso will need to reverse to compete at the highest level this season.

Lessons from back-to-back defeats

Alonso remains convinced that the PSG defeat in the World Cup was a blip, while the derby served as a harsher, more definitive wake-up call. He told his players, even in mid-flight, that this loss should act as a "bandage" stopping a deeper wound later and that there can be no repetition of such mistakes in big matches.

As the calendar tightens, Real Madrid faces a stacked slate: a trip to face Kairat in Kazakhstan, then Villarreal, Getafe, Juventus, and finally a Clasico against Barcelona on October 26. The importance of the Barcelona clash is underscored by four consecutive winless matches against Barça under manager Hans Flick, adding pressure on both players and the man directing the project.

A fresh start and a test for the project

Alonso views the Almaty trip as the reset button for a new chapter, insisting the pain from the derby should drive a positive transformation. The focus now is on improving both collective and individual performances in the run-up to upcoming fixtures.

Looking ahead: future challenges and the Clasico

The week ahead invites tough questions about Real Madrid’s readiness to compete on all fronts. A squad that started brightly and enjoyed a winning streak has met its first stern test against a strong rival, leaving a wound that demands rapid, decisive repair. Fans remain divided between belief in the new football project and concern that balance is still not fully achieved for the season’s key matches.

With the Clasico beckoning, the Barcelona game is a likely barometer for whether Madrid can rebound quickly. Management is watching closely, aware that another setback against top opponents could reignite debate about the project’s identity and potentially place Alonso under early-season scrutiny.

Punchlines time: If Alonso wants a faster turnaround, maybe he should start with a post-match press conference that comes with a built-in translator for the fans’ memes. And if the derby is a wake-up call, perhaps the alarm clock should come with a louder speaker—one that echoes through the Bernabéu and beyond, preferably before breakfast. Just saying, a good plan is a plan that actually wakes you up before you nap again at halftime.